Optical Audio Transmission for Low-Latency Wireless Earphones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless audio transmission protocols, such as Bluetooth, suffer from high latency issues, particularly for low-latency audio applications like audio feedback, leading to user experience degradation due to delayed audible responses.
Innovation Solution
The method involves an audio source device that transitions between transmitting audio data as an over-the-air optical signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal, using an optical transmitter for low-latency data and an RF transmitter for high-latency data, and adjusts transmission based on reception quality to maintain continuous playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Bluetooth wireless protocol is used for audio transmission, then wireless connectivity is achieved, but latency is high causing delayed audio feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the RF-based Bluetooth wireless transmission system with an optical transmission system using visible light or infrared light. The audio source device includes an optical transmitter that modulates light signals to carry audio data, and the audio output device includes an optical receiver with photodetectors to detect these light signals. This optical substitution eliminates the latency inherent in Bluetooth RF protocols while maintaining wireless connectivity, achieving near-instantaneous audio feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission medium parameter from radio frequency electromagnetic waves to optical electromagnetic waves. By using light carriers instead of RF carriers, the system achieves higher bandwidth and lower latency transmission. The optical transmitter modulates light intensity or frequency to encode audio data, and the photodetectors convert these optical variations back to electrical signals, providing a parameter change that resolves the latency contradiction.
2Loss of time
If optical transmission is used for low-latency audio, then latency is reduced, but transmission is susceptible to environmental obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different transmission methods for different audio data types. Low-latency audio feedback is transmitted through the optical channel when conditions permit, while other audio data can use alternative paths. The system locally adapts the transmission quality based on the specific audio stream requirements and environmental conditions, optimizing performance for time-sensitive audio while managing environmental vulnerabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation by continuously monitoring the optical transmission channel quality and adjusting the transmission mode accordingly. When environmental obstructions degrade the optical signal, the system dynamically switches to alternative transmission methods or adjusts modulation parameters to maintain reliable audio delivery. This dynamic response allows the system to exploit optical transmission benefits when available while mitigating environmental harmful factors when they arise.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces latency in audio feedback responses and ensures seamless audio playback by switching to RF transmission when optical signal reception is obstructed, providing nearly instantaneous audio output and minimizing discontinuities.
Implementation Method 1
the optical transmitter is configured to produce the optical signal as modulated light (e.g., having a wavelength between 800-1150 nm)
Implementation Method 2
the optical receiver may be configured to receive the optical signal by sensing the modulated light that is out-coupled through the pinna
Data Source
AI summary
A system that includes an audio source device configured to obtain audio data of at least one audio channel of a piece of program content. The audio source device has an optical transmitter for transmitting the audio data as an optical signal and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver. The system also includes a wireless earphone that has an optical receiver for receiving the audio data as the optical signal, a RF transceiver for transmitting feedback data indicating a reception quality of the received optical signal at the wireless earphone as a wireless RF signal, and a speaker for outputting the audio data contained within the optical signal and/or the data packets as sound.